We have in this case a remarkable test of the two different forms of therapy. Here is a patient with a virile constitution affected with a severe infection who, under homoeopathic treatment by which his native vitality, was carefully nursed, over-came that infection, while under the allopathic treatment during which a sthenic form of therapy was used, the results, after four months of treatment, were so unsatisfactory that the patient went back to homoeopathy and after a few weeks is now convalescing.
One other point should be emphasized from our experience in this case and that is the necessity of a prolonged convalescence in these severe infections during which the patient must be protected from the vicissitudes of life for a period of at least six months, so that the system can develop enough resistance to prevent the development of any bacteria that may remain in the tissues.
CASE II.
On July 7th, 1930, Rudolph D., a well developed, sturdy man of fifty-five years of age, came to me for advice. On the day before, his dentist had pulled his two remaining teeth, veritable tusks, from his lower jaw. In doing so, there resulted a splintering of the jaw bone and the dentist said that he could not fasten upon the loose pieces of bone with his instruments and advised the patient to go to a surgeon and have him cut down upon and scrape the jaw bone. The patient asked my advice as to this.
I told him to wait a few days and in the meantime I would give him some pills to take. I gave him Silica 12x in the form of one grain tablets and instructed him to take one tablet night and morning. The next day, he reported considerable less swelling in his jaw and a greater sense of comfort. On the third day, he reported to his dentist who, upon examining the jaw, was much surprised to find several chips of bone so near the surface of the wound that he could pick them out with his instruments and that the wound was well on the way to complete healing. By July 14th, the wound was entirely healed and the dentist was able to continue with the work of fitting the denture.
CASE III.
Mrs. K., 37 years of age, married, with two children by two different husbands. In 1924, patient was told that she had a tumor on the uterus, but that it would not interfere with her becoming pregnant. A few months after this, she became pregnant and in due time, gave birth to a boy baby. Now she has been told by two different gynaecologists that she has a large tumor on the uterus. One surgeon said that she must be operated on at once, the other, that she should go to the country, rest up and get strong in preparation for an operation in six weeks or two months. She has asked me to install the building up process.
Patient complains of a drawing sensation “deep in” the lumbar region which comes during emotional excitement and during menstruation. Menstruation has become prolonged, formerly it lasted three to five days, but now it lasts eight days. The flow is a red fluid and “plentiful”. Whenever she douches the vagina at any time, she notices blood clots in the rinse water. She notices blood after intercourse. On cleaning the anus after stool, she notices blood on the paper.
All winter she has felt weak, has been unable to lift the baby. She feels unrefreshed when she awakens in the morning. During menstruation, she feels a sense of heaviness on the vertex of the head. It is like a pressure from without, better by lying and in the open air, aggravated by standing and after eating. This headache can come between periods.
She cannot stand the least bit of noise, sudden noises startle her. Music irritates her. She enjoys music, as such, but now it makes her cry. She can feel the heart beating when sitting or lying, especially after emotional excitement. She does not feel her heart after walking or ascending.
She is fond of bread, but cannot eat it as it makes her head ache. Is fond of salt, likes salty food. Fond of sweets, but these affect her head. Is not thirsty. Appetite is good. Sleep is good, but she does not feel fresh when she awakens.
She likes fresh air and enjoys being out, but for the last few years she had desired a hot water bag at her feet in bed.
She has much gas in the abdomen which makes her feel distended. This is relieved by flatus which has an odor of rotten eggs; the stool has the same odor. There is a tendency to constipation and when not constipated, she has a feeling that the stool is insufficient.
Patient has had a tendency to depression and indefinite fears. Has crying spells, especially when alone, when writing, or when meditating over her life. She is very irritable, every little thing seems to irritate her. Weeps when she hears music but she enjoys the music, crying seems to relieve her.
I gave her Natrum carbonica 200th, one dose, chiefly on her mental symptoms, on her reaction to music, on the character of her stool, and on the general impression.
July 12th. Patient reported that bleeding from the vagina had ceased since the last menstruation which ended July 9th. The period was not so painful, she did not feels so weak during the period. The characteristics of the flow were as usual and had continued two days longer than customary. She feels mentally lighter, not so depressed. Headache was not so severe nor so persistent during menstruation. Does not notice heart so much. Stool does not have the bad odor. She has better control over her mental faculties.
I gave her Saccharum lactis and did not see her again until July 8th, 1930, at which time she came to me on account of a digestive disturbance and a general nervous condition, brought about by family troubles. In her testimony, she said that her menstruation came every 28 days, lasted four to five days, and the flow, a red fluid with some clots, was profuse for first two days and then gradually subsided. One of the former surgeons, after a recent examination, had told her that there was no tumor on her uterus at present.
CASE IV.
This case was brought to me on January 24, 1929. It is of interest, from a psychological as well as a surgical point of view, therefore I hope you will pardon me if I go a little into his medical history before he was brought to me.
The patient was a boy four and a half years of age. His governess who accompanied him was a mother of two children, about 35 years of age, and had had considerable training in child psychology. She became dissatisfied with the mode of treatment followed by the family physician, an allopath, and when he told her that the patient was a moron and that she would not be able to do anything with him, and she learned that there had been frequent changes of attendants and, also, that the patient had a bad reputation in the household for vicious behavior, she asked that a specialist be consulted.
The mother called in a psychiatrist who told the governess that the patient was a moron and that there was nothing that could be done for him, and instructed her as to how she could rig up a strait-jacket for the purpose of restraining him when he got into one of his tantrums. She was not satisfied with this judgment and asked for further medical advice. The patient was brought to me.
The mothers testimony was that the patient had always been “frightfully” constipated, had never had a natural bowel movement from the first year of his life. His sleep was very restless, throws the covers off, cries in his sleep, and has wet the bed frequently. At these times he awakens in great fear, and when they try to change his wet garments, he fights and screams and often two people are required to accomplish the act. During the day he has occasional tantrums in which he is very unruly and stubborn, kicks and scratches the attendant, and, when shut in his room, throws the contents in all directions.
He want always to be with someone during the day. He enjoys being read to and will be quiet at that time, otherwise he is constant movement. Appetite is variable, sometimes he has no desire for food, at another he will have a craving for anything in the way of food. He craves sweets and rich foods which make him very sick. One cannot tell when he wants to go to stool as he never seems to have an urge. They use enemas, milk of magnesia and senna leaves in his food. For the last two weeks he has had herpes on his upper lip. He often complains of sores on the buccal mucous membranes and these are always accompanied by a rise in temperature. He always breathes through his mouth; his mouth is never closed. Adenoids were removed in 1928, but not the tonsils. Had measles in 1926. No other illness other than frequent digestive upsets. Patient is the youngest of five children.
Physical examination: Patient is well developed and fairly well nourished. Weight 43 pounds, 4 ounces. Holds his mouth open constantly. His speech is so indistinct that his governess must interpret. Tonsils enlarged, the left more than the right and both are dark red in color. Heart and lungs O.K. Abdomen rather prominent, soft, and not sensitive. Testicles still in the canal. I find the patient easy to handle, very active mentally and very inquisitive. Lycopodium 200th, one dose, and advised a diet rich in vitamins and salts.
